Parish priest Artur Kaproń took part in a bodybuilding competition in October. In the free-pose routine, Father Artur performed a choreography to the song “Sweet like cola”. He was reprimanded for the video, not for his passion. Internet users did not hide their outrage at the canonical admonition from Legnica Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski. They most often accused other, overweight priests of envying the athletic parish priest’s appearance. They saw nothing inappropriate in the priest’s choreography.
Below are several anonymous comments.
“I saw nothing scandalous in it; it is a sport, and a priest is also a human being. It is better for him to do sports than to get involved in other unnecessary things.”
“It’s good that a bunch of backward, overweight men didn’t have the priest burned at the stake! Maybe they should apologize to the faithful for wallowing in luxury.”
“It’s good that the priest competed. You need to have a passion. Show a photo of that bishop. I’d like to see how fit he is.”
“I don’t feel scandalized. It’s great that he has such a passion. Does that make him a worse priest?”
There were also other, more constructive comments. These are the ones we suggest the faithful include in a letter to the bishop, so that he knows the faithful approve of the clergy’s new way of life and allow them considerable latitude in matters of morality. More than that, they value such priests more than bland ones. Only by writing directly to the authorities can you change something in your Church, after all. Instead of getting frustrated online, take matters into your own hands and inform the bishop what kind of Church suits you and what kind of priests you want. Below are several comments that are convincing and may give the bishop and other hierarchs of the Catholic Church something to think about.
“[Kościół] cannot make use of such gems for its own benefit. So what if the 70-plus generation feels scandalized? They will go to church anyway, and soon—pardon the expression—they will kick the bucket, while there are fewer and fewer young people and no attempt is even made to encourage them.”
“There aren’t many people like him. People like him broaden the faithful and strengthen faith. He fills me with admiration.”
“Father Artur’s body is a work of art, sculpted through years of hard work, determination and, more than once, pain. On top of that, he can share it with young people and teach them how to exercise so they do not hurt themselves.”
“Give it a rest, people. Where is all this leading? Would it be better for some priest to hide his children and mistresses, while they can trample someone’s passions over a trifle? I generally believe that a priest is also a human being and should have a normal family, like a pastor.”
“It is truly a shame that the voices of some deranged people led to the punishment of a man whose passion presumably did not interfere in any way with his duties as a priest. Apparently it is better for a priest to be associated with an obese man who rakes in money from funerals and weddings, or occasionally with some scandals, and that’s it. Church officials could use this popularity positively, but why would they? Better to punish someone who has a passion, achieves success and could be a role model for many.”